Labradors are naturally great hunting dogs. They have an innate ability to know what to do while they are out in a field, or on the water. For hundreds of generations, they have been bred to do just that. Even though they have some inherited hunting instincts, they still need to be trained on the process. Waterfowl season is quickly approaching, so now is the perfect time to really buckle down on training and refreshing your hunting dog on the basics of waterfowling.
Water Training
Your first step should be to train your dog to love the water. I’m sure you don’t have to beg your Labrador to want to jump in; but if your dog has never been around the water, you definitely need to get that out of the way. Pick a day with mild weather to go to a nearby lake and toss a few balls out.
Boat Training
Once your dog learns to love the water, introduce them to your boat. Make sure it’s the same kind of boat you’ll be using during the hunting season. Taking them out exclusively on your party barge and then expecting them to be excited to hop on your motor boat might not end well. Sometimes you’ll have to move slowly, starting by just getting him or her used to sitting on the boat. As they gain your trust with the boat, launch it and take them for a ride around the lake. Once you get out there, toss a few balls around and get them comfortable with jumping into the deep water from the boat.
Bumper and Decoy Training
Waiting until hunting season to introduce your dog to bumpers and decoys is a huge mistake. I’ve talked to a couple guys who brought their dogs hunting only to discover that their dogs were great retrievers, but instead of grabbing the ducks, they brought back the decoys. Obviously this is not ideal. The mistake they made in the training process was not introducing decoys during training. Once your dog is comfortable with water, you can set up some decoys to get them used to navigating around them while retrieving the bumpers. You also want to make sure they know not to get caught up in the decoy lines. If your decoys are motion decoys, use them in your training as well.
Gun Training
One of the worst mistakes you could make when training your hunting dog is to start off firing a gun directly over their head. If you do this, they are certain to become afraid of gunfire. Call on a hunting partner to help you. Have them shoot the gun off at a distance while you stand with your pup. Over time, decrease the distance between the dog and the gun. Don’t rush the process. The last thing you want is for your hunting dog to be afraid of gunfire.
